CLEVELAND — One year ago, we introduced 41-year-old Mauriel Davis to 39-year-old Kaitlin D'Amico.
Mauriel was 10 years out from her diagnosis, and Kaitlin was on the cusp of getting lifechanging surgery. We brought them together at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation for an honest and candid conversation about breast cancer.
They quickly learned they had some startling similarities.
"I had my mastectomy Oct. 19, 2012," Mauriel said. "And I'm having mine Oct. 19, 2022," Kaitlin added. "So, wow!" Mauriel exclaimes.
The two instantly became bonded in the Pink Sisterhood of breast cancer warriors, and they've been lifting each other up ever since. Earlier this month, we brought them back together for another conversation about what the last year has looked like for them.
THE ROUGH STUFF
KAITLIN: "So I had the surgery, a double mastectomy, on Oct. 19, nd I had a very hard recovery. I went for the hysterectomy in February."
MAURIEL: "Wow, that's a lot."
RECONSTRUCTION IS A PERSONAL CHOICE
MAURIEL: "I went to the doctor and he said I had a lot of scar tissue and it was, like, pulling. Well, they put it through to my insurance and they denied it, because they said it's not medically necessary. So, now I'm fighting that."
KAITLIN: "Now, will you have go back to implants again?"
MAURIEL: "I probably will. I haven't had any other problems besides that, but it's been 10 years."
KAITLIN: "I am continuing to stay flat, and I'm proud to say that I am so that other women know it's OK. You do go through that transition of feeling like you've lost your womanhood, but you are who makes you up, not physical."
MAURIEL: "I think that's so brave of you. It really is."
GRATITUDE
KAITLIN: "I just wanted to thank you so much for all the help you have given me through the journey, because without you, I don't feel like I would have had a sister. And you felt like that sister for me, that pink sister, that I needed during the difficult times."
MAURIEL: "No problem. I would do it again and again and again and again, and it makes me feel good because I know exactly what you were going through. Like I said, our journeys weren't the same, you know? We had different journeys, but it's still a journey."
KAITLIN: "You just have the right words. That's again, that's what the bond is, is that we know each other and what we've been through, and that bond means a lot."
MAURIEL: "Yeah, for sure. We've got to continue it. We've got to stay in touch."
THE LESSONS
MAURIEL: "In the past 11 years, I have poured into so many women that are fighting the battle or have fought the battle or getting ready to fight the battle, and I have lost, like, three people. It made me want to stop, because I'm like, 'I'm growing bonds with these people.' But now, I'm like, 'That's the reason I'm here,' you know? And it feels good."
KAITLIN: "I would like to be able to give somebody going through the journey like you did for me to be there to support and to care and listen and speak the truth to me. If we all continue to give back to one another, we're all going to get through it. We're strong women."
These strong women are looking ahead and making plans for their future. They're always there for each other and every brave warrior fighting their own battle. All of it is a journey rooted in pink.
Breast Cancer Resources:
MORE FROM WKYC:
